Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Basketball at Calvin has always been the trademark sport, the arena where bragging rights are won and lost and where maroon and gold are the only colors seen in the crowd. With that kind of tradition, it is indeed an honor to be considered a leader of one of Calvin’s basketball teams. This year that player would have to be Brook Van Eck, a senior post player who plays the game with heart every time she steps on the court.

Van Eck, a native of Lowell Michigan, helps lead a very young team this season currently ranked in the top 15 in the country. A year ago, she was named to the All-MIAA first team and was a two-time MIAA Player of the Week. Earlier this year, she was named the Most Valuable Player of the Wilmington Tip-Off Tournament and later earned a spot on the Olivet Thanksgiving Classic All-tournament team.

With the addition of freshman standout Carissa Verkaik in the post for the Knights, Van Eck has seen her looks on offense decreased as compared to last year, but she still makes the most of every opportunity she does get in the paint, showing why she has to be considered one of the better players Calvin has had in its history.

On Tuesday night and in the first match-up between Calvin and Hope this season, the Dutchmen defeated the Knights 73-58, but Van Eck had a great performance in the second half to lead the team offensively with 15 points and 5 boards.

“Hope Calvin games are always intense beyond belief,” Van Eck said after Tuesday night’s loss at rival Hope College. “We did not play as well as we would have liked tonight. Some of the credit for that should go to Hope but we know we can play better than what we showed tonight.”

Her performance on Tuesday illustrates a good point. To play on that kind of stage really shows what kind of stuff players are made of, and in that game Van Eck really showed why she still playing great at the end of a great career here at Calvin.

Up until the game at Hope Tuesday night, Van Eck has connected on 56 of 127 shots from the field, putting her at a very impressive .441 shooting percentage overall. What is most impressive about her play though is that she is ranked sixth nationally in free throw percentage at .909, missing only 4 shots from the charity stripe all season thus far.

Also Van Eck looks to join the Calvin Women’s Basketball 500 Rebound Club soon, as she sits at 497 boards to date. This milestone for Van Eck would make her just the 10th player in Calvin history to accomplish the feat, definitely something that sets her apart from past players.

“It’s been a great four years so far and I am really excited to see where the rest of this season goes,” said Van Eck.

So with the best part of the season to come and with what to this team looks like a very promising postseason, Van Eck should continue to stand strong as a leader for the Knights. And with her accomplishments at Calvin in her career here, she should be remembered for a long time to come.